First Tooth

Look closely and you can see a little tooth peeking out from that lower lip.

Snug Sits Up All By Himself

He is not amused at his new talent

Dad is very proud of Snug's new talent

Fall Adventures Part 3

The 24 hour adrenaline rush also known as taking Snug canoeing on the Blue Ridge Reservoir in mid-October.

Phase 1:  Snug's 30 second try out of his life vest makes us think he likes it.  We think taking him on a camping adventure via canoe an hour away from the car is a good idea.

Phase 2:  We get to the Blue Ridge Reservoir, unload, pack up and set out for what we think will be a peaceful 45 minute canoe ride to a camp site.

Phase 3: It becomes evident quite quickly that Snug does not like his life vest.  It squeezes his little face and he hates it.  The crying begins. 

Phase 4:  The sun blazes on his little face. The crying continues.

Phase 5:  The wind picks up and chills his little body to the bone.  I hold him to keep him warm leaving the paddling to Mike alone (not that I am much help anyway).  The crying continues as the hour long canoe ride becomes an hour an a half battle against the wind. 

Phase 6:  Haul all of our stuff up the steepest, rockiest incline to our campsite.  The crying continues.

Phase 7:  Set up the tent as fast as possible so Snug can take a nap.

Phase 8:  45 minute respite while Snug naps.  While he sleeps, it starts getting cold.   We contemplate packing up and paddling back to the car.  We decide to stay.

Phase 9:  The sun begins to set and the cold descends upon us.  Make a fire and bundle, bundle, bundle the littlest boy.

Phase 10: Its getting super cold and Snug needs to sleep so the whole family goes to bed at 7:30 pm.  Snug's night time layers:  Onsie, pants, socks, fleece two-sie, sleep sack, gloves, beanie, and down vest/bag over dog bed, I mean travel bed. 

Phase 11-24:  The longest night ever.  Snug pretty slept well but we woke every 20 minutes to make sure he was warm and breathing.  His core stayed warm but the poor, little guy kept taking his arm out of his cocoon.  He had a little icicle for an arm.

Phase 25:  Snug wakes up at 3 am laughing.  We assume he was laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.  We were not as amused.

Phase 26:  I wake up cold at 4:30 am.  Convinced that Snug is freezing, I put him in my sleeping bag with me. 

Phase 27:  The sun comes out.  It is still freezing so we stay in the tent in our bags.  Snug is remarkably calm.

Phase 28:  When the sun is up and it is starting to warm up, we pack up and get out as fast as possible. 

Phase 29:  Mike finds that the canoe has iced over.

Phase 30:  No blazing sun in Snug's face and no wind chilling him to the bone makes the ride back a much calmer endeavor. 

Phase 31:  Arrive back at the boat ramp. Pack up and gladly go back to Phoenix

Final thoughts:  Camping on the Blue Ridge in October, beautiful?  Yes.  Worth it?  Maybe next year.

Fall Adventures Part 2

We stayed a night in a cottage at the Briar Patch Inn in Sedona.  It is like the Shire--a safe haven with paths of clovers through thickets, stone steps, wooden swings, and warm light.

From our cottage, we walked down Oak Creek.  Snug tried out his hiking backpack and liked it quite well.

There happened to be a canoe tethered across the creek.  In the spirit of Mr Toad (we've been reading The Wind in the Willows), we decided to borrow the canoe for a little joy float.  Mike waded across the stream to get it and then paddled across to pick up snug and me. 

Snug enjoyed the Briar Patch Inn, the walk down the creek and the joy float.  I am sure when Fall Adventures Part 3 kicked in, he wondered why we ever had to leave. 

Fall Adventures Part 1

We spent the day riding bikes and hanging out by the lake in granite basin.  Snug got his first taste of the cold.

Mike, Snug and his best friend, the little creature, Pete

Selah mountain biking